Radio Features

Two Shropshire hairdressers who learned their craft through an apprentice scheme started their own business in Oswestry four years ago. Now they are employing their own apprentice and appreciate the value of such schemes.

Katherine Robinson and Lisa Askey opened Scizzor Sisters in the old Fighting Cocks pub with just a couple of thousand pounds between them. Four years later, they're thriving and looking to expand.

Katherine Robinson and Lisa Askey

Katherine said it was easy to choose the location: "We came and looked at this place and fell in love with it and then put a deposit down that night. A few days after, we were open."

She said the apprenticeship scheme with Shropshire County Training had been very valuable: "It takes two years to gain your level two, then you go on for another year to do a level three. You take it at your own pace and they give you the inspiration to start your own business up."

Katherine and Lisa have taken on an apprentice of their own now. Seventeen-year-old Jadine Gerrard is working at the salon and attending college once a fortnight.

Hayley Williams, who is 23, also works at Scizzor Sisters. She too was an apprentice and qualified as a hairdresser seven years ago: "It's a good way. I didn't want to go to college full time. I wanted to be at a work placement, so it was ideal for me."